Follow @theurbancountry on Twitter Find us on Facebook Subscribe to theurbancountry.com via e-mail Subscribe to theurbancountry.com via RSS
Follow @theurbancountry on Twitter Find us on Facebook Subscribe to theurbancountry.com via e-mail Subscribe to theurbancountry.com via RSS

Our degrading planet 3

The planet Earth is rapidly degrading, and according to a 2,500 page report from the United Nations approximately 60 percent of the ecosystem services that support life on Earth – such as fresh water, capture fisheries, air and water regulation, and the regulation of regional climate, natural hazards and pests – are being degraded or used unsustainably. Scientists warn that the harmful consequences of this degradation could grow significantly worse in the next 50 years.

The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, released today, warns that degradation of 15 of the 24 ecosystem services examined is increasing the likelihood of potentially abrupt changes that will seriously affect human well-being.

It states that Humans have changed ecosystems more rapidly and extensively in the last 50 years than in any other period and 10 to 30 percent of the mammal, bird and amphibian species are currently threatened with extinction.

The alarming UN study was conducted by 1,300 experts from 95 countries and should be a wake-up call to greedy corporations that aren’t environment-friendly.

If ever there is a time to change in the right direction, now is it. People are more informed than ever and technology has empowered us to learn about the damage we’re causing to the planet.

View the Millenium Ecosystem Assessment

earth1

3 thoughts on “Our degrading planet

  1. Ty Mar 31,2005 2:13 pm

    No biggie…when we’re done with this 60 percent we’ll all just move into parts of the 40 percent we haven’t ruined…

  2. Jim Mar 31,2005 3:21 pm

    good point.. you’re very optimistic 😉

    What about living on Mars? I guess that could be a backup plan.

  3. WhyNot Apr 1,2005 11:51 am

    What about living on Mars? I guess that could be a backup plan

    Too right. I thought I heard Bush say a few months ago he was off there starting a ranch or something.

    To ty:

    The only problem about the 40% remaining is they are under the oceans. I guess we’d better start growing fins and gills real fast 🙂

Leave a Reply